HR 655 IH

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the Medicare skilled nursing facility prospective payment system.

February 9, 1999

Mr. STARK (for himself, Mr. LEACH, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. BENTSEN, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. WEYGAND, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. FROST, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. KILPATRICK, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. STRICKLAND, and Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the Medicare skilled nursing facility prospective payment system.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Medicare Social Work Equity Act of 1999'.

SEC. 2. EXCLUDING CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER SERVICES FROM COVERAGE UNDER THE MEDICARE SKILLED NURSING FACILITY PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM AND CONSOLIDATED PAYMENT.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 1888(e)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395yy(e)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting `clinical social worker services,' after `qualified psychologist services,'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 1861(hh)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(2)) is amended by striking `and other than services furnished to an inpatient of a skilled nursing facility which the facility is required to provide as a requirement for participation'.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section apply as if included in the enactment of section 4432(a) of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

END